Additive dispensing means for a washing machine



Nov. 25, 1969 E. o. ENGEBRETSEN 3,479,845

ADDITIVE DISPENSING MEANS FOR A WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 5mm 0. ENGEBRETSEN HlS ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 11969 E. o. ENGEBRETSEN 3,479,845

ADDITIVE DISPENSING MEANS FOR A WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1968 INVENTOR. EINAR Q ENGEBRETSEN ,zzr

H! s ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,479,845 ADDITIVE DISPENSING MEANS FOR A WASHING MACHINE Einar 0. Engehretsen, Valley View, 111., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 705,513 Int. Cl. D06f 29/00, 39/02 US. Cl. 68-17 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Additive dispensing means for a Washing machine. The dispensing means include a first dispenser-container of the flow-through type and a second dispenser-container of the siphon-type. The dispenser-containers are fluidconnected in parallel to conduit means which convey wash fluid to the machines wash chamber. The first dispenser-container has an outlet for discharging a first mixture, comprising a first additive and wash fluid, into the wash chamber. The second dispenser-container has an outlet for discharging a second mixture, comprising a second additive and wash fluid, to the Wash chamber. The fluid-connections of the dispenser-containers to the conduit means are valveless and are arranged such that discharging of the second mixture can commence only after discharging of the first mixture is substantially completed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automatic washing machines and more particularly to improved additive dispensing means which are particularly adapted for use with automatic clothes washing machines.

Automatic clothes washing machines customarily proceed through a sequence of operations in order to wash, rinse and extract excess fluid from the clothes. This sequence often includes first and second washing operations followed by a rinsing operation. Generally, detergent for use in the first washing operation is manually added and means are provided for automatically adding additional detergent during the second washing operation and for subsequently automatically adding rinsing aid during the rinsing operation.

A number of arrangements have been proposed heretofore to perform automatic additions of detergent and rinse aid to clothes washing machines.

US. Patent No, 3,027,741, issued Apr. 3, 1962 to N. I. Bullock et al., illustrates a typical form of such prior-art arrangements. The additive dispensing means described in this prior-art patent are quite complex and expensive since they require multiple solenoid-operated pivoted lids or gates.

US. Patent No. 3,033,427, issued May 8, 1962 to A. H. Petersen and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present inyention, illustrates another form of prior-art additive means for a clothes washing machines, wherein two additive dispenser-containers are valvelessly fluid-connected to wash fluid supply conduit means. However, both of the Petersen dispenser-containers are of the overflow type which, while fairly satisfactory for adding liquid additives, are not particularly desirable for adding soluble solid additives, such as detergents, that are frequently manufactured in granular or tablet form.

Experience has shown that such soluble solid additives can be most efficiently distributed by a dispenser-container of the flow-through type and that liquid additives are most efliciently distributed by a dispenser-container of the siphon type. Hence, it would be desirable to provide improved, simplified additive dispensing means which 3,479,845 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 are particularly adapted for use with a clothes washing machine to sequentially dispense a soluble solid first additive and, subsequently, a liquid second additive. The present invention provides such improved additive dispens ing means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides improved, simplified additive dispensing means which are particularly adapted for use with a washing machine having a wash chamber for receiving articles to be washed therein and conduit means for conveying wash fluid to the wash chamber. In one presently preferred form, the dispensing means of the present invention include a first additive dispensercontainer of the flow-through type and a second additive dispenser-container of the siphon type. Each of the dispenser-containers is fluid-connected to a different one of a pair of outlets which are provided in the conduit means. The first dispenser-container has an outlet for discharging a first mixture, comprising a first additive and wash fluid, to the wash chamber and the second dispenser-container has an outlet for discharging a second mixture, comprisin g a second additive and Wash fluid to the wash chamber. The fluid-connections of the dispenser-containers to the conduit outlets are valveless and are arranged such that discharging of the second mixture can commence only after discharging of the first mixture is substantially completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a right side elevational view, with some of the parts broken away and others sectioned to illustrate details, of a clothes washing machine incorporating one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing details of the flow-through type dispenser-container em loyed in the form of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES l and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2, showing details of the siphon-type dispenser-container employed in the form of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated an automatic clothes washing machine 10 incorporating one presently preferred form of the additive dispensing means of the present invention. It should be noted at the outset that, while the additive dispensing means of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in a clothes washing machine, it may be employed in other types of article washing machines. The application of the additive dispensing means of the present invention in a clothes washing machine is for purposes of illustration only.

The clothes washing machine 10 comprises an outer casing 11 having a bulkhead 12 which forms the bottom wall of an enclosure 13 housing a vertically arranged article-receiving wash chamber or clothes basket 14 and an agitator 15. Below the bulkhead 12 is a machinery compartment 16. Disposed within the machinery compartment 16 is a frame 17. The frame 17 is mounted for gyratory movement about a pivot point (not shown) located in a transverse structural member at the base of the casing 1. The frame 17 supports a drive motor 18 disposed with its output shaft 19 extending vertically downward. The motor shaft 19 carries a drive sheave 20 and its bottom end is connected to the rotor of a pump 21.

3 The pump 21 receives fluid from the enclosure 13 through a screened inlet 22 provided in the bulkhead 12 and is fluid-connected to the pump 21 by an inlet conduit 23. A pump discharge conduit 24 leads from the pump 21 to provide for discharge of fluid from the enclosure 13 to a household sewer system (not shown).

The motor 18 is of the reversible, split-phase induction type commonly used in washing machines. As is well understood in the art, operation of the motor 18 in its forward or wash direction operates the agitator 15 for washing and rinsing functions, and operation of the motor 18 in its reverse or spin direction rotates the clothes basket 14 for centrifugal extraction of fluid from the basket 14 and the fabric articles therein. The pump 21 may be of any of the well-known types such that, when the motor 18 is operating in its spin direction, the pump 21 removes water from the enclosure 13, and when the motor is operating in its wash direction, the pump is generally ineffective as a pumping mechanism.

A transmission 25 is vertically mounted with the frame 17 and has a housing 26 about the lower portion of which a circular concentric skirt 27 provides a driven clutch element. Within the skirt 27 there is a uni-directional clutch 28 of a type well known in the art. The clutch 28 carries another sheave 29, which is connected by a belt 30 to the motor shaft-carried sheave 20. When the motor 18 operates in its spin direction, the clutch 28 engages the skirt 27 to rotate the housing 26 therewith. By means of a conventional slip clutch 31 of the coil-spring type, rotation of the sheave 29 in the wash direction transmit torque to the transmission 25, while the unidirectional clutch 28 is disengaged from the skirt 27 so that the drive torque is not transmitted to the housing 26. The details of construction of one suitable transmission of this general configuration are illustrated and described in US. Patent No. 3,145,553, issued Aug. 25, 1964 to S. L. Mc- Millan and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention.

A hollow shaft or sleeve 32 extends upwardly from the transmission 25 and is secured to a fixture 33 which is mounted onthe clothes basket 14; so that when the transmission housing 26 is rotated as aforesaid, the basket 14 rotates therewith. A flexible boot (not shown) is fixed to the sleeve 32 and the bulkhead 12 to prevent the passage of fluid into the machinery compartment 16 while permitting gyratory movement of the sleeve 32 relative to the bulkhead 12.

The agitator 15 is located within the basket 14 and is coaxial therewith and movable relative thereto. The agitator 15 includes a center post 34 from which a plurality of vanes 35 radially extend. The agitator is secured to the upper end of an agitator shaft 36 which extends downwardly through the agitator center post 34 and through the sleeve 32 to the transmission 25. During the washing and rinsing steps, the transmission 25 is effective to cause the agitator shaft 36 to oscillate about its axis, which in turn causes oscillation of the agitator 15.

The basket 14 is generally frusto-conically shaped and is imperforate except for a row of apertures 37 provided adjacent to its open upper end through which fluid is ejected to the enclosure 13 during the centrifugal spin operation of the basket 14. A ring 38 of heavy material is carried at the top of the basket 14 to contribute a stabilizing influenceduring spin. The top wall of the casing 11 is provided with an opening 39 that is generally aligned with the open upper end of the clothes basket 14 and provides an access opening through which articles to be washed can be inserted into and removed from basket 14. The access opening 39 may be provided with a cover or lid (not shown). A solenoid-operated valve assembly 40 is mounted on the rear wall of the casing 11 for supplying wash fluid, such as water, to machine 10. The valve assembly 40 has an inlet 41 arranged to be connected to a hot water supply source (not shown) and another inlet 42 arranged to be connected to a cold water supply source (not shown), whereby hot, cold or warm water can be delivered to the basket 14 by way of a valve outlet conduit 43 at the rear center of the basket opening as is well known in the art. The machine 10 is also provided with a control compartment (not shown) in which are located various control devices including a time cycle controller (not shown) which conducts the machine through a complete operational cycle by controlling the operation of the motor 18 and the valve assembly 40 in accordance with a predetermined sequence in a well-known manner.

As previously indicated above, the operational cycle of clothes washing machines, such as the machine 10, often includes first and second washing operations followed by a rinsing operation. Generally, detergent for use in the first washing operation is manually added and means are provided for automatically adding additional detergent during the second washing operation and for subsequently automatically adding rinsing aid during the rinsing operation. Detergents are most frequently manufactured in the form of soluble solids, such as granules or tablets, while rinse aid additives, such as fabric softeners, are most frequently manufactured in liquid form. Experience has shown that soluble solid additives can be most efliciently distributed by a dispenser-container of the flow-through type and that liquid additives can be most efliciently distributed by a dispenser-container of the siphon-type The present invention provides improved, simplified additive dispensing means which are particularly adapted for use with a clothes washing machine, such as the machine 10, to automatically dispense soluble solid additives during the second washing operation and to subsequently automatically dispense liquid additives during a rinsing operation.

In the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, these improved, simplified dispensing means include a first dispenser-container 44 of the flow-through type and a second dispenser-container 45 of the siphon type. As illustrated, the first dispenser-container 44 is suitably fastened on the under side of the top wall of the casing 11 adjacent to the left front edge the basket excess opening 39. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the first dispenser-container 44 comprises open-topped receptacle which is generally bell-shaped in horizontal cross-section with the large end of the bell exposed adjacent the basket access opening 39 and over the open upper end of the basket 14 and with the smaller end of the bell extending radially outward from the basket 14. The first dispensercontainer 44 further includes a generally flat bell-shaped bottom wall 46 which gently slopes downwardly toward the basket 14 and upwardly extending side walls 47 and 48 and end walls 49 and 50. The end wall 49 adjacent the basket 14 is curved to conform with the basket opening and is provided with an outlet opening 51 adjacent its bottom which extends across substantially its entire width. The other end wall is provided with a fluid inlet opening 52 and a fill opening 53 is provided in the top wall of the casing 11 through which a soluble solid first additive can be placed in the dispenser-container 44 by the machine operator prior to initiation of the machine operational cycle. As illustrated, the fill opening 53 is preferably provided with a lid 54.

The second dispensercontai11er 45 is suitably fastened on the under side of the top wall of the casing 11 adjacent to the left rear edge of the basket opening 39. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the second dispensercontainer 45 comprises an open-topped box-like receptacle having upwardly extending side walls 55 and 56 and end walls 57 and 58 and a bottom wall 59. One of the end walls 57 is located adjacent to the basket access opening 39 and over the open upper end of the basket 14 and is curved to conform with the basket opening. The side walls 55 and 56 extend generally radially outward from the curved end wall 57 and are provided with substantially aligned apertures and 61. The bottom wall 59 slopes gently toward the curved inner end wall 57 and is provided with an outlet opening 62 adjacent to its intersection with the curved inner end wall 57. A siphon tube 63 is provided which is generally in the shape of an inverted U-shape and has one of its ends 64 connected to the outlet opening 62. The opposite or inlet end 65 of the siphon tube 63 is disposed over a downwardly dimpled portion 66 provided in the bottom wall 59 radially inward from the outlet opening 62. Another fill opening 67 is provided in the top wall of casing 11 through which a liquid second additive can be placed in second dispenser-container 45 by the machine operator prior to initiation of the machine operational cycle. As illustrated, the second fill opening 67 is preferably provided with a lid 63.

In the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, wash fluid, such as water or the like, is conveyed to the two dispenser-containers 44 and 45 by conduit means which comprise a conduit or hose 69 having an inlet end 70. As illustrated in the drawing, water is supplied to the hose inlet end 70 by an auxiliary solenoidoperated valve assembly 71 mounted on the rear Wall of casing 1. The auxiliary valve assembly 71 has an inlet 72 arranged to be connected to a hot water supply source (not shown), another inlet 73 arranged to be connected to a cold water supply source (not shown) and an outlet 74 connected to the inlet end 70 of the hose 69. The auxiliary valve assembly 71 is also controlled in a Well known manner by the same cycle timer (not shown) which controls the previously-described valve assembly 40 and is controlled such that it operates to supply water to the hose inlet end 70 during the second washing operation and the subsequent rinsing operation.

As illustrated in the drawings, the two dispenser-containers 44 and 45 are valvelessly fluid-connected in parallel to the conduit or hose 69. The hose 69 has a flared first outlet 75 at its end opposite its inlet end 70 which is wedged into the fluid inlet opening 52 of first dispenser-container 44. The hose 69 also passes through the aligned apertures 60 and 61 in the side walls 55 and 56 of the second dispenser-container 45 at a level higher than the top of the bight of the inverted U-shaped siphon tube 63. As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the portion of the hose 69 that is located within the second dispenser-container 45 is provided with a second outlet or bleed hole 76, which is made considerably smaller than the flared first outlet 75 and is, of course, located intermediate the flared first outlet 75 and the inlet end 70 of the hose 69 and downstream of the hose inlet end 70.

The major portion of the Water which is supplied to the hose inlet end 70 by the auxiliary valve assembly 71 during the second washing operation and the subsequent rinsing operation passes from the flared first outlet 75 of the hose 69 and into the first dispenser-container 44. Concurrently, however, a minor portion of this water passes from the hoses smaller second outlet or bleed hole 76 and into the second dispenser-container 45.

The water which passes from the first hose outlet 75 freely flows through the first dispenser-container 44 where it is mixed with the soluble solid first additive contained therein to form a first mixture therewith, which is discharged through the first dispenser-container outlet 51 and into clothes basket 14 until substantially all of the first additive thus contained is exhausted, after which time only water will be discharged from the first dispenser-container outlet 51.

The water which passes from the smaller second hose outlet or bleed hole 76 is trapped within the second dispenser-container 45 and mixed with the liquid second additive contained therein to form a second mixture therewith. This second mixture is retained within the second dispenser-container 45 until a suflicient quantity of water is admitted through the hose second outlet 76 to raise the level of a second mixture to the top of the bight of the inverted U-shaped siphon tube 63, whereupon the second mixture is discharged through the siphon tube 63 and from the second dispenser-container outlet 62 and into the clothes basket 14.

The two hose outlets and 76 and the additive holding capacities of the two dispenser-containers 45 and 46 are sized relative to one another such that the discharging of the first mixture from first dispenser-container outlet 51 will be substantially completed before the discharging of the second mixture from the second dispenser-container outlet 62 can commence. When rinsing aid is to be dispensed by the second dispensercontainer 45, these relative sizings are made such that the discharging of a first mixture Will be completed before the end of the second washing operation and that the discharging of the second mixture can commence no sooner than the beginning of the subsequent rinsing operation and is completed prior to the end of that rinsing operation.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides improved, simplified additive dispensing means which are particularly adapted for use with a washing machine having a wash chamber for receiving articles to be washed therein and conduit means for conveying wash fluid, such as water or the like, to the wash chamber to sequentially dispense a soluble solid first additive, and, subsequently, a liquid second additive to the wash chamber.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited to the particular details of the form illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or applications may occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the illustrated auxiliary solenoid-operated valve means 71 might be obviated by providing a more complex version of the valve assembly 40 which could also operate to supply water to the inlet end 70 of the hose 69.

Furthermore, the form illustrated could obviously be modified to cause a mixture of water and liquid bleach to be substantially completely discharged from the second dispenser-container 45 prior to the end of the second washing operation but subsequent to the substantial completion of the discharging of a mixture of water and soluble solid detergent from the first dispenser-container 44 by appropriately adjusting the relative sizing of the two hose outlets 75 and 76 or the additive-holding capacities of the two dispenser-containers 44 and 45.

Also, the illustrated hose second outlet 76 obviously might be provided with nozzle means (not shown) directed toward bafl'le means (not shown) located on the interior of one of the second dispenser-container ide walls 55 or 56 in order to break-up water passing through it and thus promote mixing of such water with the liquid additive contained therein, while alleviating foaming problems.

It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Additive dispensing means for a washing machine having a wash chamber for receiving articles to be washed therein and conduit means for conveying wash fluid to the wash chamber, said dispensing means comprising:

(a) a first dispenser-container for a first additive fluidconnected to a first outlet provided in the conduit means,

(b) said first dispenser-container being of the flowthrough type and having an outlet for discharging a first mixture comprising the first additive and wash fluid to the wash chamber; and

(c) a second dispenser-container for a second additive fluid-connected to a second outlet provided in the conduit means,

(d) said second dispenser-container being of the siphon type and having an outlet for discharging a second 7 mixture comprising the second additive and wash fluid to the Wash chamber, and (e) the fluid-connections of said dispenser containers to the conduit outlets beingvvalveless and being arranged such that discharging of said second mixture commences after discharging of said first mixture is substantially completed. 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the second outlet provided in the conduit means is smaller than the first outlet provided in the conduit means.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein: (a) the conduit means comprises a conduit having an inlet for receiving the wash fluid, (b) said first dispenser-container is fluid-connected to a first outlet provided in the conduit downstream from the inlet, and (c) said second dispenser-container is fluid-connected References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1959 Buechler 68-17 XR 4/1962 Bullock et a1. 6817 5/1962 Petersen 68-17 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1961 Germany.

15 ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

